236 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



given a curious account of the conduct of two 

 young Cuckoos, which were hatched in the nest 

 of a Robin. A translation of this account was 

 published in "The Field" of Nov. 21, 1868, and 

 it will be unnecessary therefore to give more 

 than the merest outline of the facts detailed in it. 

 Two young Cuckoos, five or six days old, 

 were found in a Robin's nest, four Robin's eggs 

 lying on the heath before the nest. The two 

 birds were extremely restless, striving to push 

 each other out of the nest, the smaller one 

 always the more active. Herr Miiller placed 

 the smaller on the back of the larger one, which 

 immediately began to heave it upwards, and, 

 thrusting its claws into the moss and texture of 

 the nest, actually succeeded in pushing it to the 

 edge of the nest and about four inches further 

 amongst the heath stems. After every contest 

 which was observed both birds contrived to 

 creep back again into the nest. Ultimately the 

 larger one was found lying dead outside the 

 nest, while the Robin was sitting on the smaller 

 bird and the eggs, which had been replaced. 



